4th XV vs Randalstown (14 – 0)
Forster Cup
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This game started just as a torrential downpour ended and the ground was saturated with water. The conditions therefore dictated the tactics and Dungannon’s skipper praised himself for his foresight in picking a team ideally suited to the conditions. In the end Dungannon prevailed and ran out comfortable but not totally dominant winners.
Dungannon almost opened the scoring in the first five minutes with a series of drives but although big Stephen Donaghy almost made it they came away with now’t.
The pressure did tell however as the pack forced Randalstown to infringe thus giving Cormac Convery the opportunity to convert penalties on thirty, thirty-five and forty minutes giving Dungannon a hard won lead at the break.
0 – 9
The second half was played, largely in the drier half of the pitch. Cormac hit post and bar with one penalty and the disappointed Derek McMullan when he missed the target altogether with another. However young Stuart McKenzie awakened the crowd with a great barging run into the heart of the Randalstown twenty-two. Dungannon then assaulted the Randalstown line with Lucas, D and R, McElduff, Donaghy and Mallon involved before the ample figure of Stevie Gavin drove over for a well worked try after fifty-eight minutes.
0 – 14
Randalstown then came back into the game but the Dungannon defence held and the Dungannon contingent were satisfied with the win when the no side whistle was blown.
Underfoot conditions were very difficult for both sides with it being practically impossible to get any purchase however both teams battled away and although they won the IV XV did not have it all their own way.
Team:. Cormac Convery, Brian Simpson, Philip Hall, Steven Martin, Kevin McElduff. Richard Fletcher, Julian Knipe (Capt). Darran Lucas, Rodney Lucas, Steven Gavin. Stephen Donaghy, Clive Weir. Gareth Lucas, Fergal Mallon, Stuart McKenzie…
Referee: Billy Walker (Lisburn RFC)
Tries: Steven Gavin,
Conversions:
Penalties: Cormac Convery (3)
Drop Goal:
1st XV vs BALLYNAHINCH (22 – 22)
Ulster Bank All Ireland League
This was a good game to watch, especially if you were uncommitted. Dungannon raced into a lead, Hinch clawed their way back into the lead only for Dungannon to storm back and snatch a draw in the last move of the game.
Playing towards the Clubhouse with the advantage of a slight breeze Dungannon dominated the opening quarter. When Hinch did escape they were punished when James Lash missed a penalty kick to touch and then a swift Michael Kirkwood break almost created a try. Michal Lawton saw a penalty attempt rebound from a post before he successfully put Gannon into the lead on twenty-one minutes.
0 – 3
Good running by Rowan Halsall and James McMahon took Dungannon from their twenty-two to the Ballynahinch ten metre line. Then a thirty metre break by Conor Gaston opened up the Hinch defence and when he passed to Chris Cochrane the Ballynahinch fullback David Nicholson was faced with a one on one with arguably the best balanced runner in Irish rugby. Nicholson made a good fist of it but the Ghost had the momentum and he raced around behind the posts for a great try. Michael Lawton added the extras after twenty-five minutes.
0 – 10
Gannon attacked right from the restart and it looked ominous for Hinch when Derek Hall broke away on a run into the twenty-two. Play went through three phases before Stuart McCloskey dug the ball out and passed to James McMahon who barged over on twenty-nine minutes. Lawton again converted.
0 – 17
On thirty-three minutes James Lash’s penalty attempt rebounded off a post and when Callum Threlfall was binned soon after Hinch spurned a penalty straight in front in favour of a scrum. Their decision ultimately proved to be correct. When awarded a penalty Harry McAleese took a quick one, slipped the ball to Chris Napier who dived over for the try converted by Lash after thirty-nine minutes
7 – 17
Although Dungannon started the second half well with Mark Jenkinson striding through the defence like a medieval knight on a charger Hinch looked dangerous. Mark O’Shea had to come to Dungannon’s rescue when an intelligent kick through eluded the chasing Stuart Morrow. Ballynahinch held field position and following a scrum James Simpson drove over after forty-two minutes.
12 – 17
The return of Callum helped Gannon get back into their stride but Hinch used the slope and breeze to good effect. When the ball came to James Thompson he put some pace into the move and sent David Nicholson over for a very good try. Lash’s conversion put Ballynahinch into the lead after sixty-three minutes
19 – 17
Two minutes later a James Lash penalty put Hinch five points ahead.
22 – 17
The game was at a virtual stalemate with Ballynahinch running down the clock. However Dungannon regained possession and Rowan Halsall launched another Gannon attack. With Halsall, McKenzie, McCloskey, Smith and Hall playing a significant part Gannon won a penalty on the Ballynahinch twenty-two. Skipper Jenkinson elected to go for touch and flowing two or three phases the ball was spun wide for Chris Cochrane to use his head and his hands to send Mark O’Shea over in the corner. 22 -22 with a touch line conversion across the breeze to come. This was a difficult kick and it never really threatened. The final whistle went and both sets of supporters were breathing a sigh of relief for different reasons.
22 – 22
Dungannon will feel disappointed, after being totally dominant with a seventeen point lead they allowed Hinch onto the game. Hinch will be disappointed to have clawed their way into a hard won lead only to lose it with the last move of the game. With both sides in the mix at the top of the Ulster Bank League both squads will believe they should have done better but at the end it was a good competitive game.
Both sides entertained their supporters and it was a great advertisement for Ulster and All Ireland League rugby. It was certainly more watchable than the fare served up at Murrayfield on Saturday afternoon’s Six Nations.
Team: Conor Gaston. Michael Lawton, Paul McKenzie, Stuart McCloskey, Christopher Cochrane. Kieran Campbell, Michael Kirkwood. Glen Sinnamon, Adam Duhig, Mark Farquhar. Mark Jenkinson (Capt), Derek Hall. Callum Threlfall, Rowan Halsall, James McMahon. Paul Jackson, Philip Whyte, Paul McCarroll, Timothy Smith, Mark O’Shea. .
Referee: Simon McDowell
Tries: Christopher Cochrane, James McMahon & Mark O’Shea
Conversions: Michael Lawton (2)
Penalties: Michael Lawton
